Davos, 29 January 2010 - The environment was a prominent theme at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, one month after the UN climate conference in Copenhagen demonstrated that global leadership is essential to reverse global warming.

Biodiversity preservation was identified as critical first step to tackling climate change in Copenhagen, and this week in Davos world leaders discussed practical actions that will allow countries to move beyond rhetoric.

Speaking at a session on biodiversity at Davos on Thursday, Pavan Sukhdev, study leader for UNEP's The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) project urged policy-makers to recognize the significance of biodiversity as natural capital, not only as a crucial support for human well-being, but also as a means for delivering value to the economy.

On Saturday, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Achim Steiner talked about the crucial importance of investing in our natural capital when he presented at a panel discussion titled Rethinking the Global Commons: Biodiversity II.

The Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD) scheme, in particular, has the potential to be a big global solution to ecosystem losses and climate change.

Other environmental issues on the agenda in Davos included 'Practical Ways Forward after Copenhagen', 'Rebuilding the governance landscape for sustainable consumption' and 'Catalysing a new vision for agriculture'.